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Greek Carrot Cake

This is, hands down, the tastiest, most flavorful, most delicate carrot cake you will ever enjoy. Authentically Greek and traditionally vegan, this easy recipe is a winner every time. Yes, I love it very much 🙂

Like to know the secret to this simple carrot cake’s divineness? Traditional Greek carrot cakes do not use raw, grated carrots and instead go a wonderfully different way. The carrots are first boiled in just a bit of orange juice and water with a few whole cloves and a cinnamon stick. Right there you know this recipe is going in an amazing direction! The moist, dense and light crumb is perfection in every bite.

moist, light, dense crumb – perfection!

The carrots are boiled until just fork tender and the cooking liquid is used as well so you get all that carrot goodness. No more than a total of 5 or 6 quick pulses in the food processor, adding a splash of cooking liquid, render the carrots a fine, moist grate – not mushy or pureed and not hard or crumbly. The authentic Greek additions of molasses, orange or lemon zest and a pinch of coriander round out the cake flavors perfectly for a mighty nice breakfast – my favorite time to serve Greek carrot cake.

moist, finely grated, boiled carrots

A quick note about the cooking liquid – DON’T THROW IT OUT. And to get the ideal amount of cooking liquid leftover, bring the pot of chopped carrots up to a good boil first, then lower to the lightest simmer and cook, uncovered, for 20 minutes. This should leave you with just about 1 cup or so of cooking liquid which is just, or a smidgen more, than what you’ll need for the recipe. If you are left with less cooking liquid, simply add orange juice or water to make up the difference.

The batter will be VERY thick – and very yummy! – so make sure to spread it evenly in your pan.

thick, and delicious, batter!

Boiling the carrots – this can be done up to 3 days ahead, covered/refrigerated

3 cups chopped carrots

1 cup orange juice

1 cup water

1 small cinnamon stick

reserved 1 cup cooking liquid

8 whole cloves

Batter

3 1/2 cups flour (all purpose or white whole wheat)

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup molasses

1/2 cup cooking liquid

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp coriander seeds ground or 1 1/2 tsps ground coriander

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1 tsp orange or lemon zest

1/2 cup vegetable oil (preferably sunflower)

OPTIONAL: 1 cup walnuts and/or 1 cup golden raisins

Chop carrots into smallish pieces and add to a smaller rather than larger pot with orange juice, water, cinnamon stick and cloves (contained).

Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low simmer. Cook, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Carrot pieces should be just fork tender, not hard and not mushy. Set aside to cool in cooking liquid. (You can make this ahead up to 3 days, kept covered in refrigerator in cooking liquid.)

Drain carrots and RESERVE COOKING LIQUID!!!! Add carrots to food processor, pulse 2 or 3 times, scrape down sides, add 1/3 cup cooking liquid and pulse 2 more times. Scrape down side and set aside. (You can do this step up to 3 days ahead, kept covered in refrigerator with additional 1/2 cup cooking liquid reserved for batter.)

Add dry ingredients to wet and mix completely. Stir in golden raisins and/or nuts at this time if you’re including them.

Scoop out batter into bundt pan and press down into mold so top is even. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes, no more than 50 min total. Allow to cool in pan for at least 30 minutes. Turn out and continue to cool or serve immediately. Store cake, covered, on countertop for up to 5 days – but it will never last that long 🙂

Want to use a 9×13″ cake pan? Just bake for about 40 to max 45 minutes.

And dust with powdered sugar if you’d like!

You’ll get 10 good sized breakfast pieces and up to 20 dessert slices from 1 bundt.

When you strain the carrots, do you leave the cloves in or take them out? That is, are the cloves just for seasoning the carrots while boiling or are they also grated into the cake? Thank you for your recipe.

Hi Kiki, thanks for this receipe, I’m addict to carrots cake May you please tell me what is « cooking liquid »? Here in France we have oil or butter and margarine…which one can I use for make it works? Have a great week-end XXX